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Special Education Experiential Design - SEED

Overview

The HCOS Special Education Experiential Design (SEED) program, brings students together with GSuite including Google Classroom and many other digital resources, allowing EA or parent support to be given easily. The exciting and innovative virtual tools create expectations that encourage students to strive to reach their potential. SEED successfully captivates students, allowing them to learn at their own pace and through their personal interests. SEED facilitates a group experience in a creative environment under the guidance and direction of an HCOS SEED teacher. The virtual aspect allows pacing, technology in the place of handwriting, and robust support through EA and/or parents in the home.

Success

A high percentage of students move on from SEED to a Dogwood or Adult Dogwood, when it wasn't part of the original planning earlier in their academic schooling. SEED focus on building the core competencies, building on a student's strengths and teaching students how to self advocate for support. SEED also helps students who want academic programs when Dogwood isn't the focus. Most students end up doing 2-3 years of the SEED program due to their huge growth, an increase of self-confidence, social skills and even taking on leadership within the small group synchronous classes. 

Vision Statement

In Experiential Design, the goal is that all learning (SEED) is planted deeply and given the opportunity to be rooted and grounded with solid comprehension. By fully experiencing learning practically and personally with authentic and meaningful projects wherein choice, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity are a part of the teaching pedagogy, students’ educational experiences will far surpass mere knowledge without experience. Learners will be filled up with the richest of opportunities to grow and blossom into who God has created them to be, and also be provided with meaningful interactions and experiences with the world around them as followers of our amazing, loving God.

Ephesians 3: 16-19 Amp.
May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; 19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

 

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2021/2022 SEED Course Offerings

  • Grades Five to Nine program covers five grade level courses:
    • All courses are adapted unless previous arrangements are made with SEED Teacher, SE Teacher, RA and SEED Admin
    • Adapted courses available for Grades 5 - 9
    • Applied Design, Skills and Technologies
    • Bible
    • Language Arts
    • Science
    • Social Studies
    • IEP courses can be offered to grade 10-12
  • Grad - some students (modified) in grades 10-12 may be a good fit to join the grades 8 and 9 in SEED.  This can be discussed with the SEED teachers and admin - Steve Bastian.
  • SEED Teachers:
    • April McLeod teaches Grades 5-9 Adapted and Grades 5-12 Modified
    • Shannon Beglaw teaches Grades 7, 8 and 9+ Adapted

Benefits

The heart and soul of the SEED Program and the SEED Teachers is to love, care, and guide each individual student along their own path, fulfilling the academic and social goals of BC’s Modernized Curriculum. Through the guidance, inspiration, and support of the Holy Spirit, we, the SEED teachers, hope that the students will experience the knowledge of God’s love for themselves. Benefits of the program include:

  • 1:1 support as needed on a weekly basis through regular meetings with SEED teachers on Zoom.
  • SEED teachers work to build significant relationships with each of their students and caregivers.
  • Social skills development within a safe group environment.
  • Lessons are differentiated to support all learning styles, with multiple ways to present learning. 
  • Students are prepared to be ready for the transition from Grade 9 to Grad through grade-level content and development of the competency skills needed to be successful.
  • Strong emphasis on growing and developing a student’s personal faith and service-oriented lifestyle.
  • Interaction in Group Meeting Weekly in order to build relationships with others and gain confidence in oral skills. Literature Circles are great opportunities for students to practice sharing. Each student comes to meetings prepared to elaborate about their assigned role from a novel that is being read by the whole group.
  • Safe Digital Citizenship and gaining increased technology skills.
  • Efforts are significantly praised and struggles are supported with love and care.
  • Formative Assessment to help students progress steadily.
  • Goals and expectations are set to stretch according to where a student is in their personal journey in collaboration with parents, SE teacher, and other support.

Student Tasks

  • ADST - Tynker, Scratch, Minecraft and Roblox Building Projects, Dimension U for grades 5-7, Digital Citizenship Course, Google Suite Tools for Education, Modules completed based on grade level Competencies, Content, and Big Ideas.
  • LANGUAGE ARTS - Novel Studies Complete with Literature Circle Meetings (3 Novels completed each year and the list will be supplied in advance so purchases can be made early in the year. The parent can utilize Encom funds for the novels. Best to get ordered using Amazon via order in Encom as the school has Amazon Prime and it really reduces the costs of shipping.), Grammar developed through Grammaropolis for grades 5-7, Weekly Editing assignments, Shakespeare, Writing Development throughout the year using a variety of tasks including blogging, forums, collaboration with Google Docs, reports, essays, Passion Projects, Comics with Pixton, hands-on projects and much much more. 
  • SCIENCE - Virtual Interactive experiments, Hands-On Activities, Exploring the Scientific Method through completing experiments, Inquiry projects, Research, Using Google Sheets to chart Data, BrainPOP, Discovery Education videos, Gizmos from Explore Learning, and more.
  • SOCIAL STUDIES - Inquiry-based research projects for topics such as Turning Points in History, Discrimination in History, Google Earth Voyages, AR virtual field trips.  What in the World and The Canadian Reader are used extensively.

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Class Connections

  • Each student will be connecting 1:1 for 45 - 60 minutes with the SEED Teacher for the first two weeks. After the first two weeks, the 1:1 schedule will be every other week. These time slots are chosen individually in consultation with the SEED teacher. As time is particularly booked to fit the student and teacher schedule at the beginning of the year, changes cannot be made during the year. If a meeting is missed, make up time is not available, however, each teacher has Drop-In office hours that a particular need can be addressed.
  • Group Connections are on Friday’s and time is dependent upon grade level. “Evergreens” (grades 5 - 7) is at 11:00 and “Woodlands” (grades 8 and up)  is at 10:00. These meetings are almost every Friday, but there are a few that are missed due to holidays or ProD with teachers.
  • All meetings are done via Zoom and the links for the meetings will be shared in September.
  • If a connection time is to be missed, please inform the SEED teacher; work due is still expected to be turned in on time.

Technology & Resources Needed and Utilized

  • Either a PC or Mac will work with all software and platforms within SEED
  • Items Needed for all grades:
    • Google Cardboard VR Glasses or another form of VR Goggles
    • Printer
    • Scanner (or access to phone/tablet with scanner app)
    • 4 Novel's for Novel studies (you can use Encom funds) Teacher will provide list
    • Variety of crafting supplies or things for simple science experiments will be shared a week in advance at times throughout the year. If this is a hardship, speak with the teacher and alternatives will be discussed.
  • Every computer being used for meetings needs to have either a built-in webcam and microphone or an external one. Video is an essential part of the program. (In order to be excused from using video in group meetings, it needs to be documented in the IEP and talked about with the SEED teacher to give an understanding of the reasons. Video in face-to-face meetings with the teacher is essential to build the relationship.)
  • A Noise Cancelling or Sound Isolating Headset with microphone is a requirement unless a student is working in a completely quiet area. Distractions from background noises cause many students sensory and focus challenges.  
  • A directional microphone.  Since many students are sensitive to distracting noises, having a quality microphone that won't pick up background noise is very helpful.
  • Additional Technology Needed: There are a multitude of kinds of Virtual Reality Goggles and a particular kind is not required.The Google Cardboard VR Glasses work well and are very cheap. A cell phone (Apple or Android) or iPod within the family that can be used periodically to add in the VR App is needed as well. Encom funds can be utilized to purchase the VR Headset, but not the phone or iPod. Please communicate with the SEED teacher as this varies from grade to grade.
  • Multiple Programs will be utilized at no cost or minimal within the lessons: GSuite Apps including Google Classroom, Read & Write, Important to use Chrome as the student’s browser for doing schoolwork, Wolf Quest for grades 5 and 6 (minimal cost), KidBlog, FlipGrid, Pixton, Infographics, Screencastomatic, Zoom, etc. All instructions with significant 1:1 support will be provided as we use the programs through the year.
  • Experiential Items are used in many lessons and practice. Your teacher will provide a list two weeks in advance of items needed and guardians are expected to purchase these items as part of their school supplies.  Eg. popsicle sticks, elastic bands, plastic bottles, play doh, cardboard, glue, outdoor supplies such as twigs, stones, leaves, pipe cleaners, beads, paper clips, pasta, water colour paints or markers, poster board, fabric, seeds, food colouring, salt, sand, model supplies, baking soda, vinegar, steel wool, salt, cabbage (purple), thermometer, magnifying glass...

Student Admittance Process

  1. Only available to Special Education or Learning Services designated students.  KQPR and ADFGH SE grant students.  If you are unsure, please contact your casemanager teacher.
  2. The application form is completed by SE Teacher or LS Regional Administrator.

  3. HCOS considers the privacy and protection of student information of utmost importance. We also hold the value of community and relationship between students and teachers to be paramount. In an online learning environment this is achieved primarily through the use of technology including, but not limited to: Zoom, Google Workplace, Google Classroom, and FlipGrid.

    These services, and others, allow our teachers and students to share information, share recorded class sessions and interact with each other at a distance. As such student names and faces may be visible in recordings shared with students and parents.

    Prior to participating in a class that may involve some form of recorded student presence we ask that you review our online session recordings policy and complete the question below.
    Online Recording Policy
    Please let you SE or LS teacher know that you agree with this policy for acceptance into SEED.

  4. Please note, the course work is managed through use of Google Classroom.  Family and students must be comfortable with having a student account with Google.  Legal Guardians will be required to sign the school forms on the Google Student Policy.
  5. Student and Family will be emailed a "Get to know you form" in order to gather further information and best ensure success/supports within SEED.
  6. SEED is a 10-month synchronous program (September to June).  We require commitment for the 10 months, from a family, student, SE Teacher and EAs to ensure success. Students sometimes hit the "proverbial wall" and may require extra effort from the entire team to climb over and proceed to success in the program. We have seen students that remain committed to a whole school year are successful and return for 2-3 more years in the SEED program. These are celebrated moments of growth.  

 

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